• Sadiq Jamali.
• Australasian College For Emergency Medicine, Emergency Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. drjamali@hotmail.com
• Aust Fam Physician. 2011 Mar 1;40(3):133-7.

BackgroundAnterior dislocation of the shoulder joint is a common presentation to hospital emergency departments (EDs).AimTo compare the requirement for sedation and length of ED stay utilising the author's seated shoulder reduction technique (SRT) with traditional shoulder reduction (TSR) techniques in the ED.MethodA retrospective chart review of patients presenting to the ED between January 2005 and December 2007 was conducted. The review assessed technique, mean length of stay, sedation requirements and incidence of complications in patients who were treated with either the author's SRT or with TSR.ResultsA total of 486 patient charts were reviewed and 404 met inclusion criteria. Patients were categorised into the SRT group: 66 (16.3%) and TSR group: 338 (83.7%). Mean age of the groups was 30 years (SRT) vs. 29 years (TSR), with 80% being male. Mean length of stay in the SRT group was 1.5 hours (95% CI: 1.1-1.9) vs. TSR 2.9 hours (95% CI: 2.3-2.9; p<0.001). Sedation was not required in patients in the SRT group, but was required for all patients in the TSR group. No complications were reported in either group.ConclusionIn this study group, the author's technique was successful in reducing anterior shoulder dislocation, without the need for sedation, and reduced length of ED stay when compared to TSR techniques.

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